REMOVAL OF TOXIC METAL IONS THROUGH POLYMER INCLUSION MEMBRANES CONTAINING MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS AS CARRIERS

More strict environmental regulations on the discharge of toxic metals require developing various technologies for their removal from polluted streams. The separation of toxic metal ions using immobilized membranes with doped ligands, due to their high selectivity and removal efficiency, increased stability, and low energy requirements, is promising for improving the environmental quality. Cellulose triacetate based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), with macrocyclic ligands as ion carriers, were studied for their ability to transport of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of concentration of ion carrier, pH of source aqueous phase, stripping agents on the effective transport of toxic metal ions have been assessed. All studied parameters were found to be important factors for the transport of toxic metal ions. The initial flux were determined for different conditions of transport through polymer inclusion membranes. The newly developed PIM containing macrocyclic ligands were found to be stable and highly permeable. Moreover, the prepared membranes could be potentially suitable for multiple use process for efficient removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions.